Cervical screening and management of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in HIV-positive women

Abstract

The high prevalence of abnormal cervical cytology in the context of immunosuppression has been recognized for many years. In response to repeated observations of cervical cancers in HIV-infected women, moderate and severe cervical dysplasia were designated as early symptomatic HIV infection (Category B) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 1993, and invasive cervical cancer as an AIDS-defining condition (Category C). HIV-infected women, therefore, differ from the general population not only with a greater risk for more, but also potentially more severe cervical disease. In the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy, with HIV-infected women living for longer, there is a clear need to address this increased risk with appropriate management guidelines which this review attempts to provide.